Varanasi Junction is one of the most important railway stations in Uttar Pradesh and the main rail gateway to the holy city of Kashi. Many passengers also call it Varanasi Cantt Railway Station because it is located near the Cantonment side of the city. For pilgrims visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple, tourists going to the ghats, students, traders, daily passengers and long-distance travellers, this station works as a major connection point. It links Varanasi with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai and many other cities.
Overview of Varanasi Junction
| Detail | Information |
| Station Name | Varanasi Junction |
| Common Name | Varanasi Cantt Railway Station |
| Station Code | BSB |
| City | Varanasi |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Railway Zone | Northern Railway |
| Railway Division | Lucknow Division |
| Number of Platforms | 11 platforms, with one more platform under construction |
| Main Entry/Exit | Cantt Side / Main Parking side |
| Second Entry/Exit | Lahartara / GT Road Flyover side |
| Nearby Transport | Cantt Bus Stand, autos, taxis, e-rickshaws, app cabs |
| Important Nearby Areas | Cantonment, Chetganj, Sigra, Lahurabir, Nadesar, Lahartara |
| Main Facilities | Waiting rooms, retiring rooms, cloakroom, food stalls, water points, Wi-Fi, lifts, escalators, parking, toilets, ATMs, passenger enquiry |
Varanasi Junction Station Code
The official station code of Varanasi Junction is BSB. This code is used while booking railway tickets, checking train schedules, searching live train status and reading reservation charts. Indian Railways’ station code index lists Varanasi — BSB, which confirms the correct code for the main Varanasi Junction.
Passengers should not confuse Varanasi Junction with other nearby stations such as Banaras Railway Station, Varanasi City, Kashi, Sarnath or Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. These are separate stations with different codes. For Varanasi Junction or Varanasi Cantt, the correct code is BSB.
Location of Varanasi Junction
Varanasi Junction is located in the city of Varanasi, close to the Cantonment and Chetganj areas. It is one of the most convenient arrival points for passengers travelling to central Varanasi, old city areas, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Godowlia, Sigra, Nadesar and Lahurabir.
The station’s location is useful because it connects easily with local transport. Autos, taxis, e-rickshaws and app-based cabs are available near the station. The Cantt Bus Stand is also close to the station, which helps passengers shift from train travel to road travel. Travel listings also describe the station as located in the Cantonment area and well connected by road transport.
Varanasi itself is one of India’s most famous spiritual and cultural cities. The district administration describes Varanasi, also known as Banaras or Kashi, as one of the oldest living cities in the world and a major centre of temples, religion, art, culture and tradition.
Railway Zone and Division
Varanasi Junction comes under the Northern Railway zone and is part of the Lucknow Division. The station also plays an important role because Varanasi is connected with multiple rail directions, including routes towards Lucknow, Ayodhya, Chhapra, Prayagraj and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction.
A Northern Railway work study report describes Varanasi Junction as a vital station for passenger and freight traffic and mentions that it connects Varanasi with major Indian cities. The same report also notes that the station handles traffic from several directions, including Banaras, Lohata, Shivpur, Kashi and Varanasi City sides.
Platforms at Varanasi Junction
Varanasi Junction currently has 11 platforms, with one more platform under construction to handle the high volume of train movement. This detail is mentioned in a Northern Railway work study report, which says that the station has 11 platforms and one additional platform is being built to support heavy train traffic.
These platforms handle express trains, superfast trains, intercity trains, passenger trains and special trains. Varanasi Junction is used by trains going towards Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Patna, Chennai and many other destinations. Because of the station’s heavy traffic, platform numbers may change due to operational requirements, late-running trains or special festival arrangements.
Gates and Entry Points at Varanasi Junction
Varanasi Junction has two important passenger access sides.
The main entry and exit is from the Cantt Side / Main Parking side. This side is commonly used by passengers coming from Cantonment, Chetganj, Lahurabir, Sigra, Nadesar and the main city side. It is also the more familiar entrance for many local passengers.
The second entry and exit is from the Lahartara / GT Road Flyover side. This side is useful for passengers coming from Lahartara, GT Road, Manduadih side, Rohaniya side and nearby road links. Railway station listings mention the main entry as Cantt Side: Main Parking and the second entry as Lahartara: GT Road Flyover.
Facilities at Varanasi Junction
Varanasi Junction has many passenger facilities because it serves a large number of travellers every day. The station offers waiting rooms, retiring rooms, cloakroom facility, food stalls, restaurants, drinking water points, ATMs, toilets, parking, enquiry support and passenger information systems.
The station is also equipped with modern passenger conveniences such as escalators, lifts, Wi-Fi and water ATMs. Station information sources mention facilities like waiting rooms, retiring rooms, cloakrooms, restaurants, food stalls, ATMs, Wi-Fi and medical-related support around the station.
Security and crowd movement are also important at Varanasi Junction, especially because the city receives heavy pilgrim and tourist traffic. The station area usually remains busy during festivals such as Dev Deepawali, Mahashivratri, Sawan month, Kartik Purnima and major holiday seasons.
Connectivity Around Varanasi Junction
Varanasi Junction is well connected by autos, e-rickshaws, taxis, app cabs and buses. The nearby Cantt Bus Stand makes it easier for passengers to travel towards different parts of Varanasi and nearby districts. From the station, passengers can easily go towards Godowlia, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Assi Ghat, BHU, Sarnath, Sigra and Lanka.
The station also connects with other railway stations in the Varanasi region. Banaras Railway Station, Varanasi City, Kashi Railway Station and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction are important nearby rail points. Uttar Pradesh Tourism also mentions Varanasi Junction Cantt and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar as important rail junctions linking Varanasi with major cities of India.
Nearby Places from Varanasi Junction
Several important places are located within reachable distance from Varanasi Junction. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Godowlia, Bharat Mata Mandir, Sigra, Lahurabir, Nadesar and Cantt Bus Stand are among the commonly visited nearby areas.
For tourists, the station is useful because it gives quick access to the old city, ghats and temple routes. Incredible India describes Varanasi as one of India’s most popular spiritual destinations, known for the Ganga, Dev Deepawali, heritage, crafts and cultural life.
FAQs on Varanasi Junction
Q1. What is the station code of Varanasi Junction?
A: The station code of Varanasi Junction is BSB. It is used for ticket booking, railway enquiry, live train status and train schedule searches.
Q2. How many platforms are there at Varanasi Junction?
A: Varanasi Junction has 11 platforms, and one more platform is under construction to manage heavy train movement.
Q3. Which is the main gate of Varanasi Junction?
A: The main entry and exit side is the Cantt Side / Main Parking side. This is the most commonly used entrance of Varanasi Junction.
Q4. What is the second entry point of Varanasi Junction?
A: The second major entry and exit point is the Lahartara / GT Road Flyover side. It is useful for passengers coming from Lahartara, Manduadih side and GT Road.
Q5. What facilities are available at Varanasi Junction?
A: Varanasi Junction has waiting rooms, retiring rooms, cloakroom, food stalls, drinking water points, Wi-Fi, lifts, escalators, toilets, ATMs, parking and passenger enquiry facilities.
